Whitewater’s free family festival this weekend
The annual 4th of July Free Family Festival is this weekend at Cravath Lakefront Park, 312 Whitewater St. in Whitewater. The theme is “Set Sail on the 4th of July.”
Local sponsors pay for everything at the festival including numerous Whitewater small business owners.
The festival features a parade, fireworks, car show, numerous musical acts and, now in its fourth year, the Miss Whitewater Pageant opened the festivities Thursday night.
The American Legion Beer Tent, local food vendors and the Christman Amusement carnival on the midway will be open Thursday through Sunday.
Carnival armbands will be available for $15 per session with sessions set for noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., tonight; and one session, noon to 4 p.m., Sunday.
Musical acts will include: July 3 – Mr. Burgundy, 6 to 7 p.m.; Glenn Davis & The Blues Commission (featuring Benny B on guitar), 8 to 11:30 p.m.; July 4 – Steve Meisner (polka), 2 to 4 p.m.; Titan Fun Key (rock, blues, funk), 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Andrus and The Mariners, 6 to 7 p.m.; The Boat Drunks, 8 to 11:30 p.m.
Fireworks displays are scheduled for 10 p.m., July 3 and July 4 – rain or shine – sponsored by The Coburn Company, the City of Whitewater and DLK Enterprise over Cravath Lake.
Parade, ski show & more
The annual 4th of July Parade is always a big draw for the festival. In keeping with the “Set Sail on the 4th of July” theme, US Navy Veterans Don Jones and Dick Jones will serve as the 2015 grand marshals.
Kids planning to ride in the parade are invited to decorate their bikes between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. July 3 at BicycleWise & Sports Fitness, 1130 W. Main St.
The parade is organized by The Whitewater Lions Club and steps off at 10 a.m. on July 4 at Lincoln School on Prince Street, travels to Main Street, then on to Whitewater Street, ending at Fremont Street.
Two drum and bugle corps – Genesis, and The Sound of Sun Prairie Band – will participate in the parade.
Approximately 10 minutes before the parade the annual Whippet City Mile Run will begin.
At noon, July 4, the Minneiska Ski Team will perform on Cravath Lake.
On Sunday, July 5, from noon to 5 p.m., there will be a children’s petting zoo, sponsored by Dalee Water Conditioning; and at 2 p.m., the Kindschi Pedal Pulls event for kids will be held.
Car show
The 31st annual Whitewater Car and Bike Rally is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 4, sponsored by First Citizens State Bank. The event is held at 312 Whitewater St.
Descending upon Whitewater for the show will include: antique cars, classic Mustangs and Corvettes, muscle cars, vintage motorcycles, sport bikes and touring bikes, mud trucks and custom sport race cars.
Sponsors/food vendors
The 4th of July Free Family Festival in Whitewater is made possible through numerous sponsors, aptly called “Friends of the 4th.”
This year’s sponsors include: Burns Industrial Supply; The Coburn Company; Dalee Water Conditions; Fairhaven Senior Services; Fero’s Auto Repair and Towing Services; First Citizens State Bank; Fort Community Credit Union; Gerald Murray CPA; Harrison, Williams & McDonell; Home Lumber; John’s Disposal; Kachel Family Foundation; Ketterhagen Motors; Lowell Hagen Trucking; LSP Whitewater; Miller Beer; Olm’s & Associates; Peter Hill & Bev Kopper; Pope Collision; Provisur Technologies; Rick’s Eastside Pub; The Scharine Group, Inc.; Stettler Properties; Tincher Realty; Triebolt Implement Inc.; Victoria on Main B&B; Whitewater Chiropractic LLC; Whitewater Manufacturing; Whitewater Sno Seekers Snowmobile Club; and the Whitewater Unified School District.
Food vendors at the festival are all local, non-profit organizations so purchases directly support the Whitewater community.
All food and beverage purchases are handled with tickets (festival dollars), which can be purchased at information/ticket booths in $.50 increments and sheets of $10 increments.
This year’s food vendor participants include the American Legion, First United Methodist Church, Knights of Columbus, Whitewater Optimist Club, Whitewater Lions Club, Whitewater Lions Club, Whitewater Lioness Lions Club, Whitewater Congregational UCC, Whitewater Family Church, Cristo La Roca, St. Patrick’s Hispanic Ministry and Living Savior Lutheran Church.
For additional details, visit www.ww4th.com.
